Innovacion

Fast Forward for the British Library

Innovacion recently prepared the British Library’s application to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Fast Forward programme for funds to support the initial development of six Business & IP Centres in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. The project will develop a Blueprint and operational guidelines for the national roll-out of a branded network of Business & IP Centres to Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.  The project will unlock the potential of the Patlib network, increase the knowledge exchange between business and universities and develop shared services to achieve economies of scale.  

£36 million for Emirates Air Line: A Taste of the Future of Funding?

In the past when there was money you could have a single objective project funded from a single source. In our new world major projects will look and feel more like the London Cable Car now known as the Emirates Air Line following the airline's £36 million sponsorship of the scheme over 10 years. In an area of London bedevilled by limited and ageing river crossing options the Cable Car, which will move from the design board to ‘all aboard’ in about 2 years, will offer a new way for tourists, event goers and commuters to cross the Thames. As well as adding an important landmark it will go some way to further knit together the emerging range of economic assets and attractions in the Royal Docks and on the Greenwich Peninsula into a vibrant cluster of activity for visitors and residents alike. As well as sponsorship, funding is also planned to be secured from an application for a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant, additional sponsor agreements, retail space rental and fare revenue. While this blending of funding for multi-objective projects works well for major landmark projects in London the question is how viable this approach is for less glossy but equally important projects elsewhere.

Innovacion produced the ERDF application for TfL and we're keeping our fingers crossed for a successful outcome by Spring 2012.

 

Innovacion produce Regional Growth Fund Bid for British Library

Innovacion have been retained to help the British Library to develop a Regional Growth Fund Round Two bid. The project proposes a national roll out of the British Library's successful Business and Intellectual Property (IP) Centres to Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. The project aims to support the objectives of the Regional Growth Fund by increasing the levels of private sector enterprise and supporting entrepreneurial dynamism in major English city regions. Previously, Innovacion assisted the British Library with early pilot development work for the proposed North East Business and IP Centre.